Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Contribution to the University

The Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Contribution to the University recognises distinguished service of a high degree.

Nominations for this award are open from Monday 9 June 2025 and close on Friday 5 September 2025. Please complete the nomination form and email to awards@anu.edu.au by 5pm, Friday 5 September 2025. 

Eligibility and Criteria

Staff, students and alumni of the University whose contributions to the economic, cultural, scientific or social development of Australia or the international community has demonstrated eminent achievement and merit of a high degree are eligible for the Award.

It is expected that the contribution has elevated the profile of the University through outreach, media engagement and/or public policy activities and by acknowledging the contribution that research and/or advocacy makes to the economy, society, environment or culture.

Nominations will be assessed on the basis of written evidence that demonstrates outstanding achievement in one or more of the following areas:

• External Engagement: Active collaboration with local, national, or international stakeholders and audiences.
• Public Profile & Recognition: Enhancing the University’s reputation through media, awards, or recognition by external bodies.
• Societal Impact: Contributions that lead to meaningful social, cultural, or economic benefits locally or globally.
• Research Enablement: Exceptional support that improves the quality, efficiency, or outcomes of research across disciplines.
• Innovation & Applied Impact: Development of new methodologies or solutions that address complex problems and translate research into real-world impact.
• Collaborative Leadership: Building research partnerships and promoting knowledge sharing within and beyond the University.

Nomination Process

The Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, College Deans and Directors of Service Divisions are invited to submit names of potential recipients with supporting documentation for the initial consideration of the Vice-Chancellor.

Staff or Student Associations are encouraged to submit nominations through the relevant College Dean or Service Division. The Vice-Chancellor may, at her discretion, request that a formal proposal be developed for consideration by the Chancellor's Awards Committee.

Nominations should be submitted on the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor's Annual Awards Nomination Form and will require the Primary Sponsor to provide the following:

• Supporting statement addressing the eligibility criteria (maximum 500 words total)
• Brief summary of achievements that can be used as part of the citation to be read on presentation of the Award by the Chancellor, if the nomination is successful (maximum 150 words, of the total 500 words)

Supporting statements should use clear, accessible and concise language, avoiding excessive use of technical words, academic or industry terminology and acronyms.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Chancellor’s Awards webpage. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF document to awards@anu.edu.au, by no later than 5pm on the advertised closing date.

Awards process

Up to five awards may be made each year.

All award recipients will be published on the Chancellor’s Awards webpage.

The awards will be presented at the celebratory Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Awards event in the same year and all nominees and sponsors will be invited. 

Further information

For further information please contact awards@anu.edu.au.

Citations for each of the past recipients are linked from the awards recipients below.

Recipients

*Due to the high calibre of nominations, there were multiple recipients for this award.